Go ask Alice: McCappucino anyone?

Thursday

Jan 31, 2008 at 12:01 AMJan 31, 2008 at 3:51 AM

I’m not telling McDonald’s how to run the business. They’ve had the right formula for fast food success forever. Nobody makes better fries. But when it comes to lattes, McDonald’s is just not likely to be my cup of tea.

Alice Coyle

Hang on to your lattes, lads and lasses!

McDonald’s, the home of the Big Mac, the Quarter Pounder, and hot apple pies with internal temperatures that rival the sun’s, is looking to broaden its menu to include cappuccinos and other fancy blended coffees.

Should Starbucks beware?

Will they be losing baristas in bunches to the world’s biggest fast food chain?

With slightly more affordable prices for lattes and a franchise everywhere you turn, Dunkin’ Donuts has no doubt been dipping into Starbucks’ business.

But I’m not so sure “McCappucinos” at the McCafe will catch on.

Coffee has been on the menu at Micky D’s for as long as I can remember. What it may have lacked in flavor it more than made up for in magma-like temperatures that could melt through the front seat of your car.

In recent years, McDonald’s has added Newman’s Own organic coffees to the menu in tasty flavors like vanilla and hazelnut; a big improvement in my opinion — I’ll buy anything with Paul Newman’s mug on it — but still not likely to lure loyal caffeine addicts away from the local coffee house and their high-priced blends.

This move by McDonald’s, it has been reported is to get more people to eat in its restaurants, rather than in their cars after zooming through the drive-thru. McDonald’s has been going through an image makeover, with redesigned, modern restaurants catering to today’s sophisticated clientele, and is counting on customers to linger over a latte, converse while sipping cappuccino, all from a booth inside the restaurant.

And I must admit there would be some immediate advantages to dining in; first and foremost would be the reduction in the number of ketchup stains on the back seats of my car.

I just have a hard time imagining mochacinos becoming the staple that McNuggets have been for McDonald’s all these many years.

And I can imagine customer confusion when they come to the counter to order these specialty coffees — a strange new brew at Ronald’s house.

“Would you like an extra shot of special sauce in that latte?” the McBarista might ask.

Something could go very wrong.

I’m not telling McDonald’s how to run the business. They’ve had the right formula for fast food success forever. Nobody makes better fries; the double cheeseburger on the dollar menu is a triumph in every way. And those new snack wraps, I’m lovin’ them, too.

But when it comes to lattes, McDonald’s is just not likely to be my cup of tea.

Alice Coyle is the managing editor of Community Newspaper Company’s Raynham office. She can be reached at acoyle@cnc.com.

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